(Timeline in my head: Ironclad meets Kvothe and brings her home, goes to see Xio that next morning where Medusa sees him, is now talking to Medusa, and after this conversation, he will be heading to the Desert to challenge Cain.)

He was at a loss. Xiomara has promised him a child once he became King, he was anxious for this to happen now, but he realizes it couldn't happen yet. Father wouldn't give him the Inlet being this young and inexperienced. He would need to do something to prove himself to his father. He thought about this the whole way home, but he also couldn't get the idea out of his head that something else was up with Xiomara. The way she smelled and that stench of male on her coat...what did it mean?

He could see Medusa pacing the shoreline as soon as he could see the details of the Inlet. He couldn't hear what she was saying, but the filly looked troubled enough to alert him. Ironclad gulps nervously unsure if he should even go back home right now and face whatever wrath awaited him there. Was she mad at him for leaving? Would she be mad he brought another mare home and then spent the night with her last night? He did usually stick near Medusa when he was home (though he didn't speak to her), but last night he had been fully involved with Kvothe. Then this morning he snuck off to see Xiomara. Maybe she was angry at his lack of attention...

Slowly, he steps away from the sea and onto the pebbled beach Medusa paces. He nickers to her warmingly, trying to hide his won fear from the filly, as he approaches with a forced smile. "Medusa is something wrong?" His eyes stare at an unkept part of her mane. Father told him sometimes a stallion would groom their mates to show affection. I guess the females loved it, but Ironclad has never attempted to touch Medusa before. Especially after their rough play back in the meadow two months ago. Though that was before he really knew her (he still doesn't really know her), he was still afraid she might push him over again. He was also afraid she might bite his head off.